Australia's top 10 best-kept secrets
There are more jaw-dropingly gorgeous places to see Down Under than we know what to do with. Sure some you have to battle the crowds to get a glimpse of. But there are a million others that Aussies love to keep for themselves. We’re not too good at keeping secrets, so in no particular order, here’s our favourite 10...
NINGALOO REEF
In a nutshell: Meet the world’s biggest fish.
Tell me more: Just a stone’s throw from the beach and with far fewer visitors and warmer water than the Great Barrier Reef, Ningaloo gives you the chance to do something you can do nowhere else in Oz: swim with whale sharks (April-July). Being up close with these majestic fish, which can grow up to 12 metres long, will likely be one of your most memorable experiences Down Under. Even if you miss the sharks, you’ve still got a good chance of seeing manta rays, turtles and humpback whales. Or just kick back in the idyllic lagoon in Coral Bay.
Where: Off Exmouth, about halfway up the coast of Western Australia.
ARNHEM LAND
In a nutshell:Totally tribal.
Tell me more:An almost deserted area the size of Portugal, boasts arguably the most fascinating and traditional Aboriginal heritage in Australia. Home to just a few thousand Yolngu people, tourists in this vast Aboriginal reserve are limited to a handful a day thanks to a strict permit system. Believed to perhaps be one of the first inhabited areas in Oz, over 50,000 years ago, the never colonised Arnhem features thousands of mysterious and sacred rock paintings and burial grounds.
Where:About 500km east of Darwin, Northern Territory.
WESTASMANIA
In a nutshell: Into the wild.
Tell me more:Escape even Tassie’s modest crowds by heading down the wild west coast. With nothing except a whole lot of sea between the craggy coastline and Argentina, enjoy breathing the world’s freshest air as you glimpse The Nut rising out of the ocean by Stanley and head along the Arthur River on an Apocalypse Now-esque cruise. Go via the Tarkine, Tasmania’s unprotected wilderness. Quadbike over the Henty sand dunes, near Strahan, and explore the wilderness of the south-west, where the rainforest is thicker than the Amazon and on to Tassie’s beautiful Far South region. Keep your eyes peeled – if Tasmanian tigers do still exist, this is where you’ll spot them.
Where:Er, on the west coast of Tasmania.
THE BUNGLES
In a nutshell: Like Uluru without the crowds, only better.
Tell me more: Unknown, except to a handful of locals, as recently as the 1980s, this World Heritage-listed national park is one of the most spectacular geological wonders on Earth. Exploring the mystical beehive mounds that rise into the air on is akin to stepping foot on an alien world. And thanks to its remote location and 4WD-only access, you’ll only be joined by a handful of other travellers. It’s no surprise that Baz Luhrmann used the area’s awe-inspiring scenery so extensively in his epic movie Australia. Make sure to travel along the Gibb River Road, one of the most exciting 4WD routes Down Under.
Where: In the Kimberley region of north-western Australia.
ROYAL NATIONAL PARK
In a nutshell: Daytrip to deserted beaches.
Tell me more: Being Royal regulars here at TNT, we’re a little wary to tell you about this one. Somehow though this national park manages to avoid being swamped by city-dwellers despite being in such easy reach of Sydney. If time is limited, head straight to chilled out Bundeena or the stunning Wattamolla Beach, otherwise stick your hiking boots on and head into the bush for a day or two and find your very own stretch of surf. According to our ever-adventurous editor, there’s even a nudist beach for those who feel overly burdened by clothes.
Where: An hour south of Sydney on the train.
June 10th, 2011
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